More Contemporary music of the 20th Century this week. Michel Michelet, a native of Kiev, who first migrated to Germany and then, with German persecution of Jews, fled Germany and wound up in the U.S., most notably in Hollywood where he established a substantial career for himself as film composer, writing the scores for some 100+ Hollywood and Overseas movies.

But outside of film, Michelet is virtually unknown. And this weekend’s Gramophone post features one of Michelet’s Chamber works for Cello and Piano. Ten Preludes for Cello and Piano was first premiered in San Francisco in 1942, with San Francisco Symphony Principal Cellist Boris Blinder as soloist. Blinder is joined on this recording by Pianist Isabelle Hesselberg. It was issued around 1945 by the independent Southern California label ALCO Records – a label devoted to first performances and out-of-the-way repertoire and featuring some of the most notable artists of the time. Boris Blinder, along with his brother Violinist Naum Blinder, were responsible for many first recordings of new works and did a lot to further the cause of Contemporary music on the West Coast of the U.S. as well as the rest of the country.

I don’t believe this recording has ever been reissued in any form, other than the original 78’s, and I don’t believe it’s been recorded by anyone else since.